Jackie Baillie

25 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what additional financial support it plans to make available to Scottish Enterprise Dunbartonshire to cope with the job losses at the Faslane and Coulport naval dockyards.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The number of any job reductions cannot be confirmed until Babcock Naval Services has reviewed its requirements. However, Scottish Enterprise Dunbartonshire (SED) is currently considering the potential impact on the local economy and will meet shortly with re…

25 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions have taken place with the Ministry of Defence about job losses at the Faslane and Coulport naval dockyards.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-24408.

20 Mar 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it aims to ensure that looked after young people receive adequate levels of care and support on leaving the care system.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: We are committed to improving the quality of provision for the throughcare and aftercare of children and young people looked after by local authorities. A working group has been examining how local authorities can best provide a one stop shop approach for adv…

11 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce the successful bids for digital communities.

Answer · Iain Gray: Final bids for the digital communities initiative were received on 1 March 2002 and we expect to announce the two successful bids this month.

11 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in developing its anti-racism campaign.

Answer · Iain Gray: The Executive is currently undertaking preparatory work, with a view to the campaign starting in the late spring/early summer.

11 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure diversity of employees in the senior grades of the civil service and what specific targets have been set in respect of the number of (a) women, (b) people with disabilities and (c) people from ethnic minorities employed in such grades.

Answer · Andy Kerr: We work to high standards in relation to fair and open competition and incorporate diversity as an integral part of any promotion and recruitment process. Those involved in the selection processes, are made fully aware of the need to ensure diversity on each …

11 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many civil servants in senior grades (a) are women, (b) have a disability and (c) are from ethnic minorities.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Within the Executive's Senior Civil Service (SCS) grades there are currently 55 women (25.7%). There are also a small number of staff who have self-declared a disability. However, as there are less than five of these, a precise number cannot be given to prese…

11 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many employees of external organisations are currently on secondment to it; to which department each such employee is seconded, and how long each secondment will last.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The current number of employees on secondment to the Scottish Executive from external organisations is 62. The duration of secondments will be part of a forthcoming interchange review. The length of each secondment and the Scottish Executive Department to whi…

11 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many civil servants are currently on secondment to external organisations; what the nature is of each such organisation, and how long each secondment will last.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The number of civil servants currently on secondment to external organisations is 57. The duration of secondments will be part of a forthcoming interchange review. The nature of the receiving organisations and how long each secondment will last is as follows:…

5 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21955 by Iain Gray on 30 January 2002, what the timetable is for the publication of the report on the review of the social economy and for consideration of the report's recommendations.

Answer · Iain Gray: I have now received a draft of the social economy review undertaken by Mr Stephen Maxwell, Assistant Director of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations. I shall be discussing Mr Maxwell's draft with him and will arrange for publication of the report…

28 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Scottish Council of Voluntary Organisations and any other bodies about the exemption scheme for water and sewerage charges for voluntary organisations; on what dates any such discussions took place, and what conclusions were reached.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Ministers and officials have had the following meetings to discuss the exemption scheme for water and sewerage charges:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=2 WIDTH=566><TR><TD WIDTH="48%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=16><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2><P>Scottish Council…

28 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Water will continue to provide free metering and practical support and advice on water conservation to voluntary organisations.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Yes.

28 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to backdating eligibility for exemption from water and sewerage charges for voluntary organisations that lost relief after moving premises.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The exemption scheme will operate with effect from 1 April 2002. The Executive will announce the scheme's eligibility criteria, including the qualifying date for eligibility, shortly.

28 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will define "income" in respect of voluntary organisations that apply for exemption from water and sewerage charges.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The regulations providing for exemption from water and sewerage charges for small voluntary organisations will include a definition of income for the purposes of assessing eligibility for the scheme.

28 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21962 by Iain Gray on 30 January 2002, when it will publish its fuel poverty statement.

Answer · Iain Gray: A consultative draft of the Scottish Fuel Poverty Statement has been published today, 11 March 2002. I am placing copies in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 19805). We are seeking comments on the consultative draft by 31 May 2002, prior to issui…

28 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to the supplementary question to question S1O-4696 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 14 February 2002, when the tender for a feasibility study on establishing a national centre for women's enterprise will be awarded; what key issues the study will consider, and when the stud…

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The tender for a feasibility study on establishing a national centre for women's enterprise was awarded to the Paisley Enterprise Research Centre, University of Paisley, on 22 February. The study will provide an assessment of the need for a women's enterprise…

28 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21044 by Ms Margaret Curran on 3 January 2002, on what specific areas the second stage of the Housing Improvement Task Force's work will concentrate.

Answer · Margaret Curran: At its third meeting on 4 February 2002 the Housing Improvement Task Force agreed that the work of stage two, the formulation of policy recommendations to address the issues identified in the first stage report (to be published during March 2002), will be und…

28 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it now plans to publish its response to the Race Equality Advisory Forum report.

Answer · Iain Gray: The Executive published its response on 12 March.

28 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in implementing the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000.

Answer · Iain Gray: Many public sector bodies in Scotland have been under a general obligation under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 to promote race equality since April 2001.<P>An order extending the list of bodies in Schedule 1A of the 1976 Act, including devolved bodi…

28 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to review restrictions on the political activities of local authority employees and what the timescale is for implementing any such plans.

Answer · Peter Peacock: We consulted on the issue of political restrictions in the Green Paper on local government, published in November 2000. Specific proposals on political restrictions will be included in the Local Government Consultative Document due to be published before the …

28 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider repealing sections of Part II of the Local Government Act 1988 with regard to the ability of local authorities to carry out new build construction work on behalf of others and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive has no plans at present to amend the Local Authorities (Goods and Services) Act 1970 to allow Scottish local authorities to engage in new-build construction work. However, this issue was raised in the recent consultation on the Scottish…

28 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider repealing sections of Part II of the Local Government Act 1988 that prohibit non-commercial matters, such as employees' terms and conditions, from being taken into account by public authorities when entering into contracts for the delivery of goods and services an…

Answer · Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive plans to use the forthcoming Scottish Local Government Bill to amend those parts of the Local Government Act 1988 that are currently preventing Scottish local authorities from delivering fully on their commitment to fair employment and …

27 Feb 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking in order to tackle drug misuse in local communities.

Answer · Margaret Curran: Protecting our communities from drug-related anti-social and criminal behaviour is one of the four pillars of our drugs strategy, along with helping young people, treating those affected by drug misuse, and stifling the availability of drugs. Through Scotland…

20 Feb 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it monitors the effectiveness of Route Accident Reduction Plans where such plans have been implemented.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The effectiveness of Route Accident Reduction Plans is monitored by comparing the accident figures for the three years preceding the implementation of the plan with those for the three years following completion of the works.

30 Jan 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much money has been allocated for improvements to trunk roads during this parliamentary session.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The allocation for the trunk roads network, including investment in new construction, improvements and routine maintenance, is £774 million between 1999 and 2003. This does not include capital charges and other adjustments made as a result of the introduction…

23 Jan 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-17052 by Nicol Stephen on 14 August 2001, when it will report on the first phase of the national evaluation of Sure Start Scotland.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Sure Start Scotland seeks to give a positive start to the lives of very young children by providing broad-based support to children and families from deprived areas. <P>The first phase of the evaluation of Sure Start Scotland focused on mapping the provision …

16 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met each of the water authorities to discuss charitable reliefs and what the outcome was of any such discussions.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Executive announced a scheme to exempt certain premises from water and sewerage charges on 15 January 2002. In the period leading up to that announcement, the Executive discussed charitable reliefs with the water authorities on a number of separate occasi…

16 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the final report of the Homelessness Task Force will be published.

Answer · Iain Gray: The Homelessness Task Force is currently finalising its report and recommendations, which I expect to be published before the end of February.

16 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will report on the outcome of the consultation on the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park draft designation order.

Answer · Allan Wilson: We hope to lay a draft Designation Order for Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, and the associated Elections Order, before the Scottish Parliament, in the very near future. As required by section 6(6) of the National Parks (Scotland) Act the Designa…

16 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the impact on its fuel poverty strategy of any price differential of electricity supplied to (a) domestic consumers and (b) non-domestic consumers compared with the rest of the UK.

Answer · Iain Gray: No such assessment has been made, but I have asked the Fuel Poverty Working Group to examine the matter as part of the consideration of the Fuel Poverty Statement that Scottish ministers are required to make under section 88 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001.